For His eyes are on the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps. There is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves. Job 34:21-22

The story and topic for today's Daily Devo comes from the Reverend Paul Krause, who is under-shepherd at two Church of the Lutheran Confession congregations in eastern South Dakota. We thank him for his ideas.

"You can run, but you can't hide." Isn't that what the expression says?

During the last few weeks the truth of that expression has been shown in a number of incidents.

1. Michael Christopher Davis of Brookside, Alabama, was hanging around some bad people. A few weeks ago police, with a warrant, showed up at Davis' home, where they found a drug-making factory. They also found -- and arrested -- quite a few people who were making those drugs. Amazingly, Davis wasn't one of them.

Two hours into the raid, the police were sure they had caught everyone who was going to be caught. They were preparing to leave when they heard a rather loud noise. Following the sound, they were taken to a dryer, you know, the kind of machine that takes wet clothing and makes them dry. Looking into the dryer they found Davis, who was fast asleep and snoring.

After Davis was arrested, he told the police, "I was trying to hide, and ya'll just stayed too long ... I fell asleep."

2. Gabrielle Looper of Guthrie Center, Iowa, was wanted for violation of her probation. When police showed up at her home, they couldn't find her, until someone realized her home had two ovens. They checked and, sure enough, they found her hiding in an oven, which had been hollowed out.

Now I'm not saying the police are going to catch every criminal. Some lawbreakers are pretty good at avoiding detection. At the same time, I believe Job who tells us the eyes of the Lord are "on a man's ways and there is no gloom or deep darkness where evildoers may hide themselves."

In short, you can run, but you can't hide from an all-knowing God.

Now that would be a very frightening bit of news if it weren't for the fact that the Lord, while not making allowances for sin, wants us to know that through His Son's suffering, sacrifice and resurrection, we can be saved. Indeed, so we might have faith in the Redeemer, the Lord sends the Holy Spirit to call us to the Gospel, which brings us to the soul-saving Christ.

That's what the beloved apostle John was trying to tell us when he wrote, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks that even when I was covered in sin You still loved me and did all that was necessary to save me. Grant that I may offer appropriate thanks for Your grace and my Savior's sacrifice. In His Name I pray. Amen.

In Christ I remain His servant and yours,

Today's Bible Readings: Judges 13-15    Luke 15:1-10

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